Ranking Bruins’ potential first-round opponents from easiest to hardest
Easiest: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins aren’t just the easiest opponent of the three, but this was also the easiest spot to rank. The Panthers and Islanders both offer at least some reason for concern for the Bruins. It’s hard to find one with the Pens.
Yes, Sidney Crosby (88 points) and Evgeni Malkin (81) are still playing at a high level into the twilight of their careers. It’s an indictment of general manager Ron Hextall that he’s put a team around them that not only isn’t a Cup contender, but may not even be a playoff team.
Medium: Florida Panthers
It’s close between the Panthers and Islanders. The debate is basically which worries you more: The high-end talent and offensive firepower of the Panthers, or the elite goaltending of Ilya Sorokin for the Islanders.
After a slow start to the season, the Panthers since the All-Star break have looked a little more like the team that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season. Over the last two months, they rank second in the NHL in scoring (3.78 goals per game) and first in 5-on-5 scoring (3.34 goals per game).
Hardest: New York Islanders
The Islanders edge out the Panthers for toughest matchup for one reason and one reason only: Ilya Sorokin.
Sorokin is the only goalie who conceivably has a case to steal some Vezina votes from Linus Ullmark. While making 11 more starts and facing 300 more shots than Ullmark, Sorokin ranks third in save percentage (.924) and fifth in goals-against average (2.38).
The Islanders are admittedly not very scary outside of Sorokin. They do have a big, mobile defense led by the likes of Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield and Noah Dobson that can present some problems, and has in postseasons past.